Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) allow the remote and distributed monitoring of parameters in their deployed environment. WSNs are receiving increasing research interest, due to their ability to enable a wide range of applications, and their potential to have a major impact on ubiquitous computing. Many research challenges are encountered in retaining a useful network lifetime under constrains imposed by the limited energy reserves that are inherent in the small, locally-powered sensor nodes. This research addresses some of these challenges through the development and evaluation of energy- and information-managed algorithms leading to increased network lifetime. The first contribution of this research is the development of an Information manageD Energy-aware ALgorithm for Sensor networks with Rule Managed Reporting (IDEALS/RMR). IDEALS/RMR is an application-independent, localised system to control and manage the degradation of a network through the positive discrimination of packets. This is achieved by the novel combination of energy management (through IDEALS) and information management (through RMR) which increases the network lifetime at the possible expense of often trivial data. IDEALS/RMR is particularly suited to applications where sensor nodes are small, energy constrained, embedded devices particularly those that feature energy harvesting) that are required to report data in an unassisted fashion. The second contribution of this research is the analysis of various environmental and physical aspects of WSNs, and the effect that they have on the operation of nodes and networks. These aspects include energy components (stores, sources and consumers), sensing devices, wireless communication, and timing; these aspects are independently modelled and, through simulation, their effect on the operation of the network is quantified. The third contribution of this research is the evaluation of IDEALS/RMR using a simulator that has been specifically developed to integrate both the proposed environmental and physical models, and a novel node architecture that facilitates structured software design. A scenario depicting the use of a WSN to monitor pump temperature in a water pumping station is simulated, and highlights the benefits of the developed algorithms.